High Plains Morning

Weekdays from 9 am to noon CT

High Plains Morning is a long-standing tradition at HPPR. Hosted by Mike Fuller, it is a daily mix of singer-songwriters, folk, jazz, americana, world, reggae, bluegrass, rock and just about anything else that you can think of. Add news from NPR and regional weather reports at the top of each hour, and you have a great way to move your day along.

‘Something More Than Free’ is Jason Isbell’s hugely anticipated follow up to 2013’s ‘Southeastern’. The new record reflects some of the many life changes Isbell has experienced in the last 3 years- marriage, sobriety and impending parenthood. The songs and arrangements are more mature and muted than some of his previous incendiary performances. We will listen to ‘Something More Than Free’ this week on High Plains Morning.

Rani Arbo and daisy mayhem have just released their 5th record together- ‘Violets Are Blue’. The New England- based quartet are now in the 15th year together; 2 members were also previously together in Salamander Crossing. The new record is full of their signature mix of folk, bluegrass, swing and blues. We will listen to ‘Violets Are Blue’ this week on High Plains Morning.

HPPR welcomes Claudia Nygaard to Amarillo for a Living Room Concert on Friday, July 17! This show will be in our studios, located at 104 SW 6th Ave, on the NW corner of 6th and Polk in the heart of downtown Amarillo. We are in the basement of Amarillo National Bank's Special Asset Center. The doors will open at 7:00, and the show will start at 7:30. We will have the usual great coffee from the folks at Evocation Coffee Roasters and cookies as well. To make a reservation, give us a call at 806-367-9088 or send an e-mail to music@hppr.org.

James Taylor’s ‘Before This World’ is his 17th studio record, and his first #1 record on the Billboard charts. These new songs were written over the last 2 years in a self –imposed seclusion in a friend’s apartment in Rhode Island. James has said that he didn’t feel he could write a new song unless he had an isolated, distraction-free environment in which to write. Recorded at his home studio, ‘Before This World’ was worth the 13 year wait since ‘October Road’ in 2002. Tune in to High Plains Morning this week to hear 'Before This World' in it's entirety.

Take a great singer-songwriter-Amos Lee- add the renowned Colorado Symphony and put them together in one of the most spectacular live venues in the country-Red Rocks Amphitheater. The result is this week’s featured CD. Recorded on August 1, 2014, ‘Live at Red Rocks’ is a mix of tunes from all 5 of Amos’ previous records. We will listen to it this week on High Plains Morning.

99 people spent part of their Father’s Day at The Fibonacci, and were rewarded with an amazing afternoon of great music. The Red River Songwriters group consists of our own Susan Gibson, Walt Wilkins, Drew Kennedy, Kelly Mickwee, Brandy Zdan and Josh Grider, and we were able to catch them on their way home from their annual songwriting camp in New Mexico. 6 top notch songwriters, 6 powerful voices, 6 guitars and 1 banjo, and a guest song from Zach Wilkerson. What a great way to end your weekend. If you would like to be on our e-mail list to find out about future shows, send an e-mail to

Indigo Girls’ new release ‘One Lost Day’ is their 14th studio record since they began recording in 1987. As I read through the reviews of this record, I began to see a common thread; they all mention that the songwriting remains as strong as ever, but the instrumentation has continued to grow and expand. I have to agree- this release sounds familiar and new at the same time. We will listen to this new batch of songs from Indigo Girls this week on High Plains Morning.

Eilen Jewell’s new release ‘Sundown Over Ghost Town’ is the sound of change. Becoming a mother and returning to her home town of Boise, Idaho have instilled a sense of growth and maturity to these songs. We will listen to 'Sundown Over Ghost Town' this week on High Plains Morning.

The new release from Dar Williams-‘Emerald’- is her 11th release and her first record since 1995’s ‘The Honesty Room’ that has not been released by Razor & Tie Records. ‘Emerald’ features several special guests including Richard Thompson, Suzzy Roche and Lucy Wainwright Roche. We will listen to ‘Emerald’ this week on High Plains Morning.

HPPR is so pleased to present Terri Hendrix and Lloyd Maines in a Living Room Concert on Friday, June 5! This show will be at The Fibonacci, located at 3306 SW 6th Ave, the home of Chamber Music Amarillo. The doors will open at 7:00, and the show will start at 7:30. We are asking for a suggested donation of $15.00 for this show. To make a reservation, call us at 806-367-9088 or send an e-mail to music@hppr.org. Don't miss this one!

We all know the songs that JD has written or co-written by heart: ‘The Best of My Love’, ‘New Kid in Town’, ‘The Heart of the Matter’, ‘I’ll Take Care of You and so many more. His new release is called ‘Tenderness’, his first CD of new songs since 2008’s ‘If the World Was You’. Produced by Larry Klein, it’s a great addition to his catalog. We will listen to ‘Tenderness’ this week on High Plains Morning.

North Carolina’s Mandolin Orange have just released their 5th record- it’s called Such Jubilee and it was written on the road over the last year. Emily Frantz and Andrew Marlin say that this record is not actually about being on the road; it’s more about the things that you know are waiting for you at home when you finally get back there. We will be listening to Such Jubilee this week on High Plains Morning.

HPPR's Songwriters in the Round series continues on Friday, May 15! This show will be at The Fibonacci, located at 3306 SW 6th Ave, the home base of Chamber Music Amarillo. The doors will open at 7:00, and the show will start at 7:30. To make a reservation for this show, give us a call at 806-367-9088 or send an e-mail to music@hppr.org. We will have the usual great coffee from the good folks at Evocation Coffee Roasters, cookies from Kristy Fuller and a great evening of original music. Don't miss it!

We here at HPPR love having guests in our studios. This morning Maxwell Hughes and Edison stopped by to talk about their show tonight in Amarillo, and to play a couple of tunes for us. They are slowly working their way back home to Colorado after SXSW; you can catch them tonight-4/1 at the 806 Coffeehouse at 2812 SW 6th Ave in Amarillo. There is no cover charge and the show starts at 9pm. Listen to the entire interview below.

Chalice Abbey in Amarillo was THE place place to be last Saturday night! It was the first time HPPR has utilized this beautiful venue-many thanks to Paul Carruth for allowing us to use it! The current art exhibit features the work of Jim Livingston, who donated a great print that we gave away to an audience member.

Simply put, this is not your dad's Bob Dylan. 'Shadows In The Night' is Bob's 36th release, and none of the tunes were composed by him. It's a collection of tunes from the Great American Songbook, featuring classics like Autumn Leaves and That Lucky Old Sun.

Diana Krall chose, once again, to do the unexpected with her latest release. ‘Wallflower’ is a collection of some of the most iconic pop tunes from the 60’s and 70’s- Eagles, Elton John, Beatles, Crowded House and more. Given the choice of material, the choice of David Foster as producer and arranger is an inspired one. We will take a trip down memory lane with ‘Wallflower’ this week on High Plains Morning.

HPPR welcomes singer/songwriter Randy Palmer to our Garden City facility for a Living Room Concert on Friday, January 30! We are located at 210 N 7th St. The doors will open at 7:00, and the show will start at 7:30. To make a reservation, call us at 620-275-7444. Don't miss it!

‘What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World’ is the 7th release from Portland, Oregon’s The Decemberists.

Initial reviews are calling the band a more seasoned and mature collective than in the past. Having built their reputation on Colin Meloy’s penchant for storytelling, the new record focuses on more personal themes - love, loss and change.

We will listen to each track from this beautiful record this week on High Plains Morning.

HPPR's Songwriters in the Round series continues this Friday night January 16! This show will be at the Fibonacci, located at 3306 SW 6th Ave. The doors will open at 7:00, and the show will start at 7:30. We will have the usual great coffee from the good folks at Evocation Coffee Roasters and fresh cookies from Kristy Fuller. To make a reservation, give us a call at 806-367-9088 or send an email to music@hppr.org. Don't miss it!

Every now and then things just seem to fall in to place. Yesterday I came into work to prepare for today’s show, and I was concerned because I didn’t know what the featured CD for the week would be. I opened the mail and there it was in my hand.

Lyal Strickland’s new record is called ‘Balanced On Barbed Wire’ and it is a beautiful work; instantly captivating and engaging.

We will listen to ‘Balanced On Barbed Wire’ this week on High Plains Morning.

It's that season again- the season of Christmas decorations, Menorahs and year end Best-of lists. Fan that I am of lists, I can't help but offer my choices for the best of 2014. Here they are, in no particular order:

Taos, New Mexico based Don Conoscenti stopped by our Amarillo studios while on the road to talk a little bit out his upcoming project. Don is currently in the middle of a Kickstarter campaign- you can contribute to his project by visiting doncon.com. While he was in our studio he played us a couple of tunes that will be on the new record. He is scheduled for a Living Room Concert in Amarillo in February of 2015. You can listen to the interview here.

You might call it family counseling or therapy; you might call it brave and brutally honest, at times; you also might call it a brilliant idea.

Teddy Thompson managed to gather both of his parents Richard and Linda Thompson, his younger sister Kami, her husband James Walbourne, Teddy and Kami’s nephew Zak Hobbs and Jack Thompson, Richard’s son from his second marriage.

The result is ‘Family’, featuring songs from each member , and we will listen to it this week on High Plains Morning.

‘Plainspoken’ is John Mellencamp’s 1st release since 2010, and according to reviews, a very personal and moving record that stands along his best. Arranged using mostly acoustic instruments, the songs continue the themes explored on his previous releases ‘No Better Than This’ and ‘Life, Death, Love & Freedom’. We will listen to ‘Plainspoken’ this week on High Plains Morning.

Stephanie Bettman & Luke Halpin are embarking on a tour of the high plains, including stops in Western Kansas and Texas.

The tour starts in Liberal on November 5 at the Baker Arts Center, then on to Garden City for an HPPR Living Room Concert on the 6th. They go back to Liberal for a gig at Seward Community College on the 7th, and finally Amarillo on the 8th, for a show at the Fibonacci.

When Yusuf returned to the world of pop music after 27 years, expectations were ridiculously high. Critics and fans agree that his new music continues to meet those expectations.

Yusuf’s new release ‘Tell ‘Em I’m Gone’ is his third release since his return in 2006. This record differs from his previous releases in that it focuses on his R & B and Blues roots, while still being instantly recognizable.

We will listen to ‘Tell ‘Em I’m Gone’ track by track this week on High Plains Morning.